Grape Plant Named &#39;Gewurztraminer RJ&#39;

ABSTRACT

The invention is a new and distinct variety of Grapes plant named ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ that is characterized by its grape clusters that are medium-large in size and cylindro-conical in shape, its good cold hardiness, its mature fruit early in the season, its vigorous growth habit with high fruit production, its grapes that are pink-purple in color at full maturity, good disease resistance, its grapes that have thick skins and are resistant to fall frost, and its grapes that produce wine that is rich in aroma and with a fruity taste.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to a Canadian plant breeders' rightsapplication filed on Jun. 11, 2019, application No. 19-9940, under 35U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which is incorporated by referenceherein.

Botanical classification: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of grapeplant botanically known as Vitis vinifera ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’, referredto hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’.

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar in autumn of 1996 as anaturally occurring branch mutation of an unnamed and unpatentedproprietary plant of Vitis vinifera from the inventor's breedingprogram, designated as “Gewurztraminer CL 47” that was growing in afield in St-Ubalde, Québec, Canada.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished byhardwood stem cuttings in 1999 by the Inventor in Port-Rouge, Québec,Canada. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by hardwood stemcuttings and tissue culture has determined that the characteristics arestable and true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ as a new and unique cultivar of Vitis.

-   -   1. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits grape clusters that are        medium-large in size and cylindro-conical in shape.    -   2. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits good cold hardiness.    -   3. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhbits mature fruit early in the seaon.    -   4. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits a vigorous growth habit with        high fruit production.    -   5. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits grapes that are pink-purple in        color at full maturity.    -   6. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits good disease resistance.    -   7. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits grapes that have thick skins and        are resistant to fall frost.    -   8. ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ exhibits grapes that produce wine that is        rich in aroma and with a fruity taste.

The parent plant of ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’, differs from ‘GewurztraminerRJ’ in having much lesscold hardiness, in being more susceptible todisease, grape clusters that are smaller in size with less weight percluster, a different leaf shape and grapes that are different in color.‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ can also be compared to the Viti vinifera cultivars‘Traminette’ (not patented) and ‘Gewurztraminer CL 643’ (not patented).‘Traminette’ is similar to ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ in having grapes thatproduce wine with a similar structure and mouthfeel. ‘Traminette’differs from ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ in having leaves that are different inshape and appearance, grapes that are different in color in clustersthat differ in shape, and in being much less cold hardy, in producinggrapes later in the season, and in having less disease resisitance.‘Gewurztraminer CL 643’ is similar to ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ in havinggrapes that produce wine that is fragrant, spicy, with good sugarlevels, acid levels and PH balance. ‘Gewurztraminer CL 643’ differs from‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ in having fruit that is different in color, berrysize, and cluster size, leaves that are different in shape and leaf budsand young shoots that are different.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new grape cultivar. The photographswere taken of plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a field inSaint-Ubalde, Québec, Canada.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of a plant 5 years in age as graftedonto 3309 rootstock and provides a side view of the plant habit of‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ with maturing fruit clusters after frost.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken of a plant 9 years in age as graftedonto Vitis riparia rootstock and provides a close-up view of the foliageof ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’.

The photographs in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 were taken of a plant 3 years inage (not grafted).

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the immature fruitof ‘Gewurztraminer RJ’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of the mature fruit of‘Gewurztraminer RJ’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the new cultivarof grape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants seven years in age asgrown outdoors in a trial field in Saint-Ubalde, Québec, Canada. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Typically commences blooms about June 24th            in Pontneuf County, Québec, Canada.        -   Plant type.—Perennial fruit producing vine.        -   Plant habit.—Open but orderly.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.2 m in height and 220 cm            in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 4a.        -   Diseases and pests.—Resistance to downy mildew (Plasmopara            viticola), powdery mildew (Uncinula necator), and black rot            (Guignardia bidwellii).        -   Propagation.—Hardwood stem cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.        -   Root development.—An average of 21 days for root initiation            with a young plant produced from a rooted cutting in 45 to            60 days.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous. Additonal detailed boatinical data            will be provided by preliminary amendment.

It is claimed: 1: A new and distinct cultivar of Grape plant named‘Gewurztraminer RJ’ as herein illustrated and described.